How do you choose a nutrition counselor?

You should expect to have someone listen to your individual concerns, take into account
your lifestyle, tastes, and preferences. Your counselor should be experienced in working
with people with similar concerns to you. A plan should be:

customized for you.

based on the best scientifically sound nutrition information, not on the diet book of
the month.

keep you dependent on the nutritionist or dietitian. It should help you develop the
skills you need, to self-manage.

cause rapid weight loss (or lead you to expect it).

You also should expect that your nutritionist or dietitian is not
augmenting the counseling fees by selling you supplements or vitamins. If you could
benefit from any kind of supplement, you should be directed to brands which you can find
at your supermarket, pharmacy, or health food store.

You should check the credentials of your nutrition counselor. You
should expect at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition and food science. If you have
medical concerns, you should be sure that your nutrition counselor has received extensive,
supervised training in a hospital-based setting. Your practitioner should be well educated
in food science, since we get most of our nutrition from foods. Registered dietitians
(RDs) meet all of the above requirements, and they must pass a national credentialing
examination, and must complete continuing professional education.